Double flanged button



April 23, 1935. H. J. REITER DOUBLE FLANGED BUTTON Filed Jan. 3, 1955 Patented Apr. 23, 1935 UNITED STATES DOUBLE. FLANGED BUTTON Harold 'J. Reiter, Chicago, 111. Application January 3', 1935, Serial No. 202

5 Claims. (01. 24-109) This invention relates to metal buttons and particularly, to the type having a cap or flange at each end thereof. .f 7

Such buttons are frequently used in connection 5 with rubber bathing caps toattach-the chin strap to the cap. The flange of the button is forced through a slit in the cap and another slit or button hole in the strap. Due to the resistance and friction of the metal upon the rubber, it is 10 more or less diflicult to force the flange, head or cap of the button through its button hole, which is usually quite tight. Furthermore, if the button is tightly held in the slit or button hole of the cap, the flange may chafe the face of the user.

My invention therefore contemplates the provision of a double flanged metal button wherein the caps of the flanges are so mounted as to, permit the flange to be inserted easily through the slit or button hole of the cap or strap bya rolling action and wherein the caps of the flanges and particularly the one adjacent-the faceare also free to turn or rotate and thereby to prevent chafing of the face of the wearer.

The various objects of my invention will be clear from the description which follows and from the drawing, in which,

Fig. l is a perspective view of a bathing cap to which my invention has been applied.

Fig. 2 is a similar view on an enlarged scale of a portion of a strap showing how the button flange may be rolled through the tight cap slit or button hole.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of my improved button in its operative position connecting two parts 'of an article.

'Fig. 4 is a top view and partial horizontal section of the same.

It willrbe understood thatmy improved button may be applied to a variety of different articles but it is preferably used in connection with rubber articles such as bathing caps or the like. In such caps as Hi, there is customarily provided a strap as II also made of rubber or similar material and provided with a button slit or button hole I 2. The cap is also provided with a slit or button hole l3 which may be smaller than the slit l2, if desired, since the button is seldom, if ever, removed therefrom. 7

In that practical embodiment of my invention which I have illustrated by way of example, my improved button comprises the one-piece eyelet l4 provided with an integral flange 15. A second similar one-piece eyelet having a flange l6 and a tubular portion I! of smaller diameter than the tubular portion of the eyelet I4 is inserted into 7 about the flange 15, said cap is provided prefersaid eyelet M in relatively reverse position (Fig. 3). The tubular portion H of the inner eyelet is madelonger than the corresponding portion of the outer eyelet 4 to provide sufilcient material to permit the flanging of the open end of the 5 tubular portion on to the outermost'face of the base flange. [5 asat'i8 and thereby to hold the eyelets securely together. Similarly, the open end of the tubular portion of the eyelet I4 is similarly flanged against theinnermost' face of the base flange i 6 of the inner eyelet as at l9, ,There is thus provided a shank 20 on the eyelet adapted to pass through the button holes l2 and 'l 3.v f

In order to finish the button and to provide the rotating or rolling action hereinbefore mentioned, the flanges l5 and I6 01- the respective outer and inner eyelets are suitably capped. Toward this end, the cap Zl of sheet materialin. the form of a disc is arranged about the flange IS. The rim of the cap 2| comprises a circular bend as 22 preferably subten-dingan angle of more than and bent inwardly about the peripheral edge 23 of the flange [5; The bend "'22 terminates in a peripheral portion 24 bent'toward the flange l5 and terminating in an edge 25 close to the adjacent face of the flange I5 but out of contact therewith. It will be understood that the cap 2| is fitted about. the flange l5 suificiently closely to prevent undue relative movement or rattling thereof but with suflicient .30 looseness to permit said cap to turn freely about the flange I5 and relatively to the remainder of the button including the shank 20.

To aid in securing a proper fit of the cap 2| ably with a central conical depression as 25 entering the interior of the tubular portion H of the, inner eyelet and arranged closely to but preferably. out of contact with the spread, turned, or flanged portion l8.

The cap 2'! for the flange IB of the inner eyelet is formed .similarly to the cap 2|, being provided with the conical recess 28, thebend 29 and the peripheral portion 30. It will be understood that the extremity 3| of the portion 30 is preferably out of contact but arranged closely to the flange 16 so as to permit turning, rolling or rotation of the cap 2'! about said flange Hi.

In operation, the cap 2! is forced through the slit or button hole l3 of the cap or other article in the customary manner as by forcing part of the bend 29 therethrough and gradually forcing the remainder of the cap through said slit, it being understood that the button may remain in place attached to the cap 10 or other article and that it is the, strap H which is more frequently removed from and attached tothe cap part 2| of the button. The slit I2 is therefore made preferably longer than the slit l3. To insert the head or cap 2| of the button through said slit l2, the parts are arranged in the position indicated in Fig. 2 and the cap 2| is simultaneously rotated or rolled about the shank 29 of the button, thereby permitting said cap to roll through the slot with a minimum of friction and easily. a

The strap ll may therefore be rapidly and easily attached to the button cap 2! and by reason of the inherent resiliency of the material of the strap and the consequent contraction of the edges of said slit about the shank, is securely held in place. Since the cap 21 at the other end of the button is also rotatable about the shank 20 of the button, it will be obvious that'any pressure on the button cap 21' will.not cause chafing of the skin of the wearer or relative movement of the cap on the face, since the cap 21 will rotate under such pressure and accommodate itself to'the various positions of the cap on the face.

It will be. seen that'I' have provided asimple though inexpensive and eflicient button to which a strap may be rapidly and easily attached and which prevents chafing of theface. It will fur- 'ther be seen that I have provided a simple button designed to meet the requirements of prac tical use.

While I have shown and described certain specific embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that I do not desire to limit myself thereto but intend to claim my invention as broadly as may be permitted by the state of the prior art and. the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 7 I r l. Ina double-flanged button, a tubular shank, and a sheet metal cap overhanging each end of the shank and rotatable thereon.

2. .In a double-flanged button, a tubular shank,

and a sheet metal cap overhanging each end of the shank and rotatable thereon, said caps each having a central portion therein bent toward the other cap and entering the shank.

3. A button comp-rising a pair of telescoped eyelet members each provided with a peripheral flange, the flanges of said members being arranged in opposed relation at opposite extremities of the button, and. a cap loosely mounted on each of the flanges and rotatable thereon.

4. A double-flanged button comprising an eyelet having a tubular shank portion open at both ends and having an integral flange outstanding "innermost face of the flange of the first-mentioned eyelet, and a cap arranged about each of said flanges, said cap having a rim bent loosely around the peripheral portion of its corresponding flange and thereby being rotatable thereon.

5. In a double flanged button, a pair of eyelets each having a hollow shank and a flange at one end of the shank, the shank of one eyelet being inserted through the shank of the other eyelet and flanged 'o-n to the'flange of said other eyelet, and a. sheet metal cap enclosing the flange of each of the eyelets, each of the caps having a rim bent over the edge of the flange and terminating in an edge out of contact with said flange whereby the caps are freely rotatable on the respective flanges, each of said caps having a central conical indent therein extending into the shank of the inner eyelet.

HAROLD J. REITER. 

